April 11, 2018

Criticism = correction. This is a person who keeps refusing and refusing to be corrected and make the necessary changes. King Saul comes to mind and I guess all of the wicked kings of Israel that we read about in the Old Testament. And come to think of it the whole nation of Israel was spanked by the Babylonians because they refused the correction of the Lord.

2Tim 3:16 says that God’s word corrects us when we are wrong and it teaches us to do right. It is good to read the Bible and look for its correction. Marriages crumble when spouses refuse to let the word of God correct them. The same goes for cities, states and nations; when God’s word is ignored morals and relationships crumble and chaos begins to reign. Do you see any of that happening today?

People’s finances get destroyed when they refuse to use their money as outlined in the scriptures. Destroyed doesn’t necessarily mean that they won’t have much money it could mean that they are always in debt, always living from paycheck to paycheck, always spending, always desiring something else and never being satisfied with what they have. They don’t have a freedom to be generous, others aren’t helped like the Lord intended and so those that could benefit don’t. Or gaining money can become their sole motivator in life to the point of being an idol. So in light of all of this the intentions of God for their money gets destroyed.

People’s emotions, feelings, mental stability, the ability to think clearly can be destroyed when they grumble, complain, gossip and judge rather than giving thanks to God in everything.

People’s health can be destroyed with unholy living and eating and drinking to excess. All of these things are addressed by God’s word.

Our thinking gets skewed and destroyed when our minds refuse to take in God’s word. > John 8:37 (NLT) — 37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message.

When we don’t allow ourselves to be corrected by the Word of God and live in and on every word of God life as God intended it to be gets destroyed.

Matthew 4:4 (NLT) — 4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

John 8:47 (NLT) — 47 Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”

John 8:51 (NLT) — 51 I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!”

As you read your Bible ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind anything in your life that needs to be corrected so that you can truly live.

Psalm 19:13–14 (NLT) — 13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.